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x\llienk L. Lindsey 



Light Upon A 
Pilgrim's Way 



POEMS 



■"•w 

BY 

ALLIENE L. LINDSEY 






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Copyright, 1914 

by 
Alliene Lindsev 



APR 2-7 1914 



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©CI,A371589 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface i 

Prayer for China or Poems inspired by Sermon. ... 2 

The True Vine 5 

Consecration 7 

I Am Sorry 8 

The Infant lo 

Love's Reward 1 2 

My Wife 14 

Woman 15 

Soul Birth 16 

The Inner Light 17 

My Mother's Shoes 18 

Life's Harvest T7: 19 

My Dearest Friend 20 

Life's Flowers 21 

Alone 23 

Sorrow's Blessinjzs 25 

Morning 27 

Sweet Thoughts 29 

Bible Presentation 30 

Prayer 3 1 

The Visit to the I'^arm |. 33 

God's Love 35 

Prayer for Truth 36 

V 



vi CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Angels' Guidance 38 

Christmas Day is Coming 40 

Father's Hero 41 

The Duality of the Soul 46 

God's Way 47 

The Tea Party 55 

Mother's Sacrifice 57 

Life on the Other Side 60 

The Soldiers' Graves 63 

A Revery Sr 66 

Eternity 69 

Love's Golden Chains 70 

A Cry From the Soul 72 

Waiting 74 

Life's Dangers 75 

God's Care 77 

The Miser's Dream 78 

The Waving Grain 87 

Birthday Greeting 89 

Truth's Awakening : 90 

Thoughts Are Things 91 

Remorse 93 

Another Day 96 

Baby Sleeps 98 

The Old World is "On the Square" 100 

The Snow Storm 102 

The Holy Visitant 104 

A Soul Message 109 

A Truth from Summer Land m 



CONTENTS vii 

PAGE 

Patience 112 

Conquest II5 

The Indian Brides 116 

Mother's Day 123 

The Altar of Love 126 

Unbidden Guests 127 

The Rose 129 

Midnight 130 

Love Wrought This ^33 



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LIGHT UPON A 
PILGRIM'S WAY 



^ 



Light Upon A Pilgrim's Way 

MRS. JLLIENE LINDSEY 
PREFACE. 

Dear Readers: 

AS I have passed through the many, and varied 
experiences of life, I have caught these in- 
spirations of thought. Sometimes, by being brought 
very near to God by sufferings, either in mind or 
physically, and sometimes, by watching the sufferings 
of others. Several, were impressions, I received 
while endeavoring to teach, and guide my children 
in the light of truth, while others were given me 
when I felt my soul o* erflowin^_with gratitude to 
God, for his beneficent love, and tender mercies, 
and the many blessings of life. 

Sometime, these few lines may be all that is left 
of me in this world. So I have concluded to have 
them bound into this little book, that my children, 
and others who wish to read them, may think again 
the thoughts that ivere a part of their mother 
throughout the many trials and pleasures, and joys 
and sorrows, which come to all, in this world. 

The Author. 



2 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

POEM INSPIRED BY SERMON. 

While attending service at Drexel Park Presbyterian 
Church Sunday morning, April 27, 191 3, sat listening 
to the inspiring words of Rev. George. A. Hill, our pas- 
tor, and so deeply did his words fall into my soul that I 
was inspired that same afternoon to write th^e few verses 
in response to his appeal for "Prayer for China." 
Isaiah 9:2. 

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great 
light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow of 
death, upon them hath the light shined." 



LISTEN Nations, pause and wonder 
What's that music, sweet and low 
Growing louder, till like thunder 
All the world shall hear and know. 



Like the tramp of hosts triumphant, 
From a mighty battle done. 

Comes a message o'er the ocean 
Of a wondrous victory won. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

O'er the wires and ocean's bosom, 
Comes the messag;e grand ; sublime, 

Never came a message like it, 
None recorded in all time. 

Let the words fly like the lightning 
Across the ocean, land and sea. 

Oh, the wonder of God's goodness, 
China turns! Oh, God to thee. 

News has come, a heathen Nation 
Is seeking after God and light 

And calls upon all Christian Nations 
*'Pray to your God to lead us right." 

Six thousand years they lived in darkness 
And worshiped idols made of clay, 

But now their sleeping sottls are waking 
And they have turned to God to pray. 

Words that fill our hearts with gladness. 

They are seeking God at last. 
*Tray to thy Lord God Almighty, 

Pray our Nation may be blest." 

Still God's finger pointing eastward. 

Bidding us to go to them, 
Bidding us to go and teach them 

Of the Christ of Bethlehem. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

Let their people hear of Jesus. 

Learn to live in God's great love : 
Let them learn to thank our Father, 

For his boundless, endless love. 

Pray their president may be guided 
Wisely by God's holy hand; 

Pray their officers and leaders 

Do God's will throughout their land. 

Shall we pray for this great people — 
Four hundred thirty million strong? 

Yes, we'll pray for them unceasing — 
Pray for them in prayer and song. 

Rejoice with me, oh, ye, my people. 
Let loud hosannas fill the skies. 

A heathen Nation, torn and fallen, 
At last to God's high heaven cries. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 5 

POEM BY MRS. LINDSEY. 

I am the vine, ye are the branches, he that abideth in 
Me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit, for 
without Me ye can do nothing. 



T 



HESE words bring before me a picture most fair 

A vine with deep roots and branches spread wide 
All hanging with purple fruit — luscious and rare 
Brought forth by the faithful who in Jesus abide. 



And as I still gaze on this beautiful vine 
It seems like our own little church to me 

With strong trunk and branches that interwine 
All trusting and working so faithfully. 

I first see the Christ Church, strong rooted in truth 
Where we worship the Lord, on each Sabbath day: 

Where father, and mother, and children, and youth, 
All gather together to worship and pray. 

Where we all kneel in prayer each prayer-meeting night 
And with song, praise and worship we effort combine 

To abide in the Lord and to work in His light 
Thus forming the trunk of this wonderful vine. 



6 IJGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

Its organizations, like branches extending, 

Are drawing their life from the strong mother vines, 

Are laden with fruit, till their bowing and bending 
They fulfill the grand mission, the Father assigns 

For without root and vine, the fruit would soon perish 
And the vine without branches, would be barren indeed. 

But the vine, root and branch the Father will cherish 
And abundantly bless us. We \vilj surely succeed. 

"I am the true vine," dow^n through the ages 
Come the sweet words of the Saviour to you. 

As we read in the Bible, whose wonderful pages. 
Reveal to our wondering souls, teaching so true. 

"Ye are the branches." Again he hath spoken, 
"Ye are the branches." Then labor in love, 

Abiding in Jesus, let this be our token, 

Bear fruit for the Father who reigneth above. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAV. 
CONSECRATION. 

THE bronzing trees are bowed with fruitage, 
The golden fields are filled with grain ; 
(jod spreads, with infinite love, and mercy. 
His blessings o'er our land again. 

And we receive another harvest, 
'Tis God's reward for labor done; 

Oh let us raise our voice in praises, 
And let us thank Him, everyone. 

Oh may these blessings wake within us. 

Desires to serve Him earnestly; 
And may we humbly walk beside Him 

Who taught us, His humility. 

Oh ! Father consecrate this harvest, 

And may we consecrate to Thee, 
Our thoughts, and deeds and every effort 

That our "harvest home" in heaven may be. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
I AM SORRY. 

ONE day my little baby boy, 
Who could not yet speak plain, 
Had done a little baby trick 
And caused his mama pain. 

And as the tears rolled down my cheek, 
From my poor injured eye, ^^ 
He came and looked up in my face 
Saying Musser p'eas don't c'y. 

Ise sorry. 

And all that day try as I would 
My baby's voice I heard. 
I could not banish from my thoughts 
Those baby words — 

Ise sorry. 

And ere I knew just what it meant, 
My heart was telling me 
I'm sorry for the heathen, 
Who know not Christ, of Thee. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

I am sorry that I can not give 
To Thee more earthly treasure. 
But what I can I surely will 
Though 'tis but small in measure. 

The voice of God oft speaks to us 
In accents soft and mild 
And thus I heard my Saviour's voice 
Even through a little child. 



10 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
THE INFANT. 

I LOOKED on the new born babe, 
A tiny, helpless mite, 
A wail went forth to greet mine cars, 
When first its eyes beheld the light 
And then I knew a ship had sailed 
Forth on the Ocean of Life, 
And a soul had come to this sorrowixig world, 
To conquer its sorrows, and strife. 

I knew not, if its course lay along the shore, 

In harbors so peaceful and still, 

Or if it must plough the ocean wave 

And mid tempest and storm fulfill 

The mission of life, its voyagement, 

As it traversed the ocean wide, 

But I knew, as I looked on this tiny craft. 

It was now on the Ocean Tide. 

And I prayed, as I kissed its trembling lips, 

That this ship, ere its return 

Would enter all harbors and ports of life, 

And be filled from stem to stern 

With a cargo of treasure rich and pure 

Gathered from every shore. 

Where it dropped its anchor or entered port. 

And gave of its precious store. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 11 

And when at last It was homeward bound 

And its voyage of life was ended 

It had given and taken in every land 

And the flag of truth defended 

It might calmly enter the Haven of Rest 

Laden with Heavenly treasure. 

Precious gems of wisdom, pearls of truth, 

And love's purest gold without measure. 



13 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
LOVE'S REWARD. 

AS I sat musing one day in June. 
The clock's hand pointing close to noon. 
The Sun poured down his strong sweet rays 
Nursing all nature those long June days. 
Trees filled with fruitage and ripening field 
Promised a gracious and bounteous yield. 

I looked at my hands once soft and^ir, 
Now hardened and calloused with work and care 
My mirror showed me a face that I knew 
Had seen at least forty winters of snow. 
And a few of the snowdrops resting there 
Had sprinkled with gray my once dark hair. 

Like the clock with its hands on the hour of noon 
And the year half passed, in the mouth of June, 
I thought how^ the morning of my life had passed 
And the Springtime of life was turning at last 
Into the season of ripening grain 
And wiiat should my harvest be, Joy or Pain. 

Just what you have made it a voice then said 

The words came so plainly I turned my head 

To see who had spoken but naught could I see. 

Still the voice kept plainly speaking to me 

Have you loved your neighbor or self alone? 

Has vour heart been of love or a heart of stone? 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 13 

Have you helped the weary, or let them fall 
Were you true to yourself, or false to all 
Your Harvest will bring you what you have sown, 
Which was it peace or dissension and groans — 
And I felt in my heart these wise words so true — 
It depends entirely on that which you do. 

If you would be happy and peaceful and glad, 
You must not make others around you feel sad, 
As you give unto others, 'twill come back to you 
So be careful my friend in what ever you do, 
Wound not a sad heart — add not to its care, 
But give them a smile and their sad burden share. 



11 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
MY WIFE. 

MY LOVE, my bride, my wife, 
The sweet companion of my life, 
I Ic/e thee, love thee, as of old, 
And as thy loving hand I hold, 
\r^d thy dear form I now enfold, 
Thy presence ^tirs within my soul 
That same sweet song, I love thee. 

Down life's long river, side by side, 
We, dear one, were content to ride. 
Though bright the Sun, or chill the blast. 
Though dark the future, drear the past, 
Though sin, dark shadows o'er me cast. 
Thy love inspired me till the last, 
I love thee, Dear One, Wife, I love thee. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. i:> 
WOMAN. 

OH WOMAN! what art thou, 
Born to sorrow and to suffer. 
Born a slave unto the world of sorrow. 
Thine own mother, knows thou art born unto sorrow, 
Even as she has born thee In sorrow, 
Thine own first breath a wail. 

Oh, little girl thou seemest free 

But time is drawing steadily 

The cords of bondage closely round thee, 

And soon thy ringing laughter shall be hushed 

As thou approachest Womanhood. 

Becoming conscious of thy charms 

Thy waking soul shall take alarm 

And seek for refuge in thy modesty. 



16 UGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
SOUL BIRTH. 

THE Master made answer in words true and plain 
Ye must be born 'again.' " 
His words hath touched the secret spring, 
My soul leaps forth a ''living thing" 
A clear white flame to light the way 
My feet must pass from day to day. 
A star beams in the sky for me 
The same star lights eternity. ^ 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 17 
THE INNER LIGHT. 

OH INNER LIGHT, Divinist attribute of God 
Who dwelleth in the flowers, the trees, the sod. 
And quickeneth with thy life and light, all things 
That fills all nature, with thy power, and brings 
Its every insect, flower, and bee, 
To dwell in harmony with Thee. 

Oh, Inner Light that dwelleth in man's heart 
And maketh all his nature thus a part 
With likeness, form and beauty, all like thee, 
To dwell within the temple thou hast made 
Slowly, but surely thou maketh man to see 
He too may dwell in harmony with thee. 

The Inner Light, the Soul, the magnet strong, 
Which draws men back to thee, when after wrong 
Hath lured them from the path of truth and right 
And almost blotted out thy calm pure light. 
Like the early Spring again awakens life in all 
When to man's soul the inner light shall call. 

Awake, dear soul, awake and see, 

Thou, too, mayest dwell in harmony with me. 



I.s LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
MY MOTHER'S SHOES. 

1LOOK with fond remembrance on my Mother's old 
worn shoes, 
And I wander back some twenty years or more 
And I see the same sweet face 
In the old familiar place, 
And I hear her gentle footsteps on the floor. 

Again I see my Mother as she was vviipn long ago, 

She wore those precious shoes upon her feet. 

As she gently stands 

And with patient hands 

Performs the household duties, calm and sweet. 

And I see the same svveet smile upon her face 

And I hear her clear voice as she sweetly sings, 

And my teardrops fall 

As my thoughts recall, 

The hymns that to her sad heart comfort brings. 

Long those faithful feet have wandered upon the other 

shore 
And her songs with angel voices sweetly blend, 
How straight her feet have trod 
The path that leads to God 
The narrow wav the road that hath no end. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. l!l 
LIFE'S HARVEST. 

THE garments we make we shall wear 
When we meet in that home over there 
Shall they be pure and white 
With truth's holy light 
Or shall they be dark with despair. 

Oh weave them of threads of pure jjold 

Made of love's holy riches untold 

And deck them with flowers 

Gleaned in life's precious hours 

While with virtue your soul shall unfold. 

Let Patience her perfect work do 
She will fashion a pure robe for you 

She will deck you with gems 

From your crown to its hems 

If you follow her teaching so true. 



20 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
MY DEAREST FRIEND. 

MY DEAREST friend, Child of God's own choice 
Lift up thy face to Heaven and rejoice 
For in thee dwelleth wonderous powers 
Which like the vine hid 'neath the deadened leaves 
When bathed with Sunlight and refreshed with showers 
Springs forth with gladness and unfolds its flowers. 

In thee, dear child, I find a yearnin^^eep, 

As if thy soul from bondage fain would leap, 

Surmounting every barrier rising in thy way, 

And winning for thine own those glorious truths 

Which keep thy feet from wandering astray 

And can alone bring to thy soul the light of endless day. 

Tis well that thou should long for light upon thy path, 
But reaching forth for more, forget not what thou hath 
The present is the weapon strong and bold 
Tis ever ready at thy hand to use with forceful power 
Use well the ever present now, and God thy hand will 

hold, 
And in each word and in each act let God thy conscience 

mold. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 21 
LIFE'S FLOWERS. 

LET us gather the flowers of the present, 
Wait not for some far future day 
There are blossoms now strewn for our picking 
There is no need of farther delay. 
The freshest of flowers will soon wither 
Their beauty the wind cast away 
But each little blossom has power 
To cheer us the short while they stay. 

Pass not the flowers! Pass not the flowers, 
But gather them while they are in bloom 
For in strewing the flowers before others 
We receive of their freshest perfume. 

Let the past be forever forgotten 

The future our perfect delight 

The present we ever have with us; 

Let us work in God's vineyard tonight; 

Let kindness be ever our watchword, 

''Tis a blossom that ever is near, 

It can waken the soul that doth slumber 

And wipe away sadness and tears. 



2 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY, 

Let us ever be found in God's Gardens 

Working in brotherly love, 

Wreathing garlands of light for our footsteps 

As we pass through the gates up above; 

For each little kind vi^ord and action 

Will be v^ritten in gold up on high, 

Oh, the joy w^hen our eyes shall behold them 

Shining deep in our souls by and bye. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 23 
ALONE. 

ALONE. To the young, gay, and thoughtless, this 
seems a sad lonely word. "Alone!" They say, far 
from life and pleasure, far from joy and merry 
laughter, far from music and ceaseless chatter — away 
from loved ones and companions, "out of the world," 
"alone," they say. Oh! the infinite solitude the word 
"alone" suggests! But to the serious minded, and the 
thoughtful the word never seems to mean — alone, for to 
them it means alone with God. With God is life, true 
life eternal, and with God is love, true love, indeed. 
With God is harmony, true music of the angels, and 
with God alone comes thiat company, the "hosts of 
heaven." 

Let us listen in the silence. Can you not hear their 
sweet music? Can you not feel "tHeir gentle touch as 
with angel fingers they caress you? Can you not discern 
life in all God's creations? Listen to the gentle mur- 
mur of the breeze rising and falling like the breathing of 
an angel. 

See the nodding, tossing grasses, bowing so gracefully 
as they greet your presence with true delight and hom- 
age. See the mighty oak reaching forth its great strong 
arms toward you and whispering with its trembling 
leaves the secret of its giant strength. \ Flowers sweet 
with perfume lift their bright faces upward, can you 
not hear them speaking to you in the language of God's 



24: LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

love, as arrayed in nature's choicest and most varied 
colors, bedecked with fringes and borders of divinest and 
most delicate fashion they smile and toss their heads bow- 
ing low in the summer breeze? 

The little rivulets and brooks sing and ripple over their 
beds of rock and pebbles, rolling the shapeless stones over 
and over in their ceaseless banter, laughing lowly as they 
pull and chase them from their beds in the shifting sand, 
until they pass on, leaving them worn and smooth and 
round, as the great world itself. Thfe water bounding 
onward bids you follow in its winding courses, often fall- 
ing o'er some dark abyss and forming a dashing cataract, 
and again spreading o'er a broad and placid surface, ever 
onward to the great bosom of the ocean. 

Birds, too sing their praises, only pausing in their happy 
song to listen if our souls are also tuned in harmony with 
God. Bees and insects hum and labor, droning loudly in 
their search for nature's sweetness, and again resting in 
the bosom of some beauteous flower where earnest labor 
calls for silence and strong effort to bear its burden 
home. And o'er and through it all, God watches. No 
we cannot be alone. He who notes the sparrow's fall 
will not forget one of His children. He will be ever 
near. The loving Father who has led us thus far, will 
lead us to the end. We can do naught but trust Him, 
He knoweth best. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 25 
SORROW'S BLESSINGS. 

WHEN the sharp edged crags of injustice 
Pave the path our feet must tread 
When those who should seek to uplift us 
Are the ones who would crush us instead. 
When the powers of darkness turn Sunshine 
Into the darkest night, 
And cut and gash its blackness, 
With the lightning's lurid light 
Then doth that soul come forth 
With the powers of Heaven free 
Gaining from out the tempest 
Its immortality. 

Gaining that power from suffering 
That shall make us humble and meek, 
Like the crucified Jesus of Nazareth, 
Of which the scriptures speak. 
Looking from out the darkness 
We discern that Heavenly light 
Which shall say the night will not be long 
Behold the morning bright. 
The cleansing flash of the lightning 
Shall burn out all the dross 
And after the storm is over 
We cannot count it loss, < 

But gain, pure gain to the spirit 



26 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

Who thus has the power to endure 

For each victory maketh us stronger 

And our power for good more sure 

Oft we're raised to wisdom's heights 

On the waves of dark despair, 

And the way is made plain before us 

By the lightning's fiercest glare. 

Then Fear Ye Not, the darkest storm 

But count it a victory won 

"For God looks forth from the tempest 

As well as the shining Sun." 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 27 
MORNING. 

1 AWOKE one morning after refreshing slumber. My 
little silvery tongued clock chimed forth five pure, 
round notes. It v^as morning. I sprang from my 
couch and opening vi^ide the shutters of my w^indow, stood 
looking out, my face tow^ard the east. 

On the eastern horizon I could see like a bank of mist, 
a pure w^hite glovv^. The ocean lay before me and its 
surface rose and fell with deep emotion like the bosom of 
some mighty soul. Dark, ghostlike shadows, closely fol- 
lowed the foaming crests of the rolling waves, which 
leaping upward, broke into showers of pearls, as with 
easy triumph, they chased the shining jewels back into 
hiding upon the ocean's bosom. As the rays of light grew 
stronger, faint fringes of shell-like pink tinted the edges 
of the shifting mist, and shimmerings^f amber, red and 
gold, vibrated in ever changing halos, spreading and 
reaching up into the dark purple dome, still studded with 
wee twinkling stars. 

I waited. The stars grew smaller and smaller and 
one by one they disappeared; brighter and brighter grew 
the east. Then came the flood of light, grand and 
glorious, filling the world both land and sea with its 
wondrous splendor, mirrored in ceaseless glintings, as it 
danced from wave to wave, stretching a stream of light 
across the ocean's bosom and forming a path of gold on 
which it seemed my soul could journey on forever. 



28 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

I looked around me. The pure white light of the new 
born day had kissed the leaves of the trees and shrubs, 
which trembled in their pure delight as the soft breeze 
from the ocean fanned them so sweetly. Drops of dew 
glistened and shone upon their wax-life surface and as 
they fluttered and quivered in the sunlight, rainbow colors 
danced within their midst. Modest flowers whose heads 
had bowed in slumber, awakened now to open wide their 
hearts to God in praise, by turning thei|^faces toward His 
light. Their tears of the night were soon dispelled by 
the sun's glad warmth. 

Upward rose that great disk of light, and it was day, 
glad day. Again — I turned my face toward the East, and 
thanked God for another day, and its glorious dawning. 

I KNOW that if my feet should stray, 
From paths of peace and thee away; 
That as the morn must follow night. 
Again thou'st lead me back to light ; 
And then my joy'd be doubly sweet, 
When face to face with truth I'd meet. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 39 



SWEET THOUGHTS. 

THE world loves a cheerful face, 
But it turns away from our sorrow ;' 
'Tis no use to fret and to grieve, 
"Let tomorrow take care of tomorrow." 

Kind words to the sad weary heart, 
Art oft like the sweet spring showers; 

Which waken and quicken to life again, 
Summer's sweet fragrant flowers. 

Kind wishes go out on the wings, 
Of Angels, who carry them home; 

And though they have heard not a word, 
They know that something has come. 

To lighten and brighten their ^thoughts, 
And lift them above earth's care; 

Kind wishes, cost little to give, 

I am sure we have each sown to spare. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
BIBLE PRESENTATION. 

RECEIVE this book, and let it be, 
Ever a guiding light to thee; 
May God inspire thee from its leaves, 
That thou mayst gather golden sheathes; 
Of truth and light and holy power, 
To keep thee in temptation's hour. 

When dark the night with care aW grief, 
Dear Friend, thy soul shall find relief; 
If thou will take this book of life, 
And putting from thee earthly strife, 
Lift up thy soul to realms above, 
Whence comest Angels' holy love; 
And say, "Thy will, thy child would know, 
As Thou wiliest, it shall be so." 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 31 
PRAYER. 

OH Thou great, great Spirit, 
Be thou my control; 
Open the gates of Heaven, 
Shed light on my soul. 
Keep a weary travelers' feet, 
Straight within thy way; 
Guide thy lowliest mortal, 
Ever, day by day. 

If all earth shall leave me, 

Friends turn from their own; 
Angels hide their beauteous forms, 

And I stand alone. 
Thou wilt not forsake me, 

When thy love I need4- 
Thou wilt lift the fallen. 

And the hungry feed. 

In thine arms thou boldest me. 

On thy breast I rest; 
Though my soul is dark with sin. 

Thou canst make me blessed. 
For thy words are tenderness, 

And thy rod is love; 
As my spirit needs thee, i 

Blessings from above 



32 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

Are showered in mercy on me, 

And thy light is shown ; 
Till I hear thy tender voice say : 

Come, thou art my own. 
Look up weary spirit, 

Come, thy God is nigh; 
I will guide thee ever. 

Guide thee with mine eye. 

I will raise the fallen, ^ 

Give sight to the blind; 
I will heal the broken heart, 

Its deepest wounds, I'll bind. 
I will send the comforter, 

To thy soul oppressed; 
Come poor weary child of life, 

I will give you rest. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 33 
THE VISIT TO THE FARM. 

MY GRANDPA is a farmer and lives near Silver 
Springs, 
And though he's very quiet, he says some funny 
things ; 
We all went out to see him and leave the city's heat, 
And the fun we had with Grandpa, I tell you can't be 
beat. 

Of course we dressed in city style, like dudes he'd laugh- 
ing say, 

But he said it would not take us long to put our style 
away ; 

And dress like common farmers with overalls and shirt, 

So we'd be free to scamper round and not be 'fraid of dirt. 

But we were alw^ays getting ourselves Into a fix, 

And Grandpa'd laugh and shake his sides to watch our 

city tricks; 
The names of nothing could we tell and if you had heard 

our questions, 
You'd thought that Grandpa's folks would laugh till they 

died of indigestion. 



34 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

The cattle knew that we were strange and didn't know 

'bout farming, 
For they dropped their heads and ran at us in a fashion 

quite alarming; 
And then we would have to run for life and jump a big 

rail fence, 
And Grandpa'd stand and laugh at us, Oh! I tell you, 

'twas immense. 

But then the pudding Grandma made, the strawberries 

and cherries, 
The apples and the milk and cream and lovely great 

blackberries ; 
Oh! I tell you friends, that visit to the farm we'll never 

forget. 
And Grandpa — well, he's just O. K. We'll go again, 

you bet. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 35 
GOD'S LOVE. 

WE see God's love in the flowers and the trees that 
tower so high, 
We feel His presence in our hearts, his breath as 
the winds pass by; 
We know God made this world and all that in it is, 
The smallest thing that He has made is no one's else but 
His. 

This one command to all He's given that you must strive 

to do, 
To others in your every deed as you'd have them do to 

you; 
To love thy neighbor as thyself thy God with all thy 

Soul, 
For we are but a single part of ffis Universal Whole. 



36 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
PRAYER FOR TRUTH. 

OH GOD, Thou who pervadeth all things with thy 
Divine Life, 
And knoweth the hearts of all man; 
We ask that thou send us a blessing of light, 

That shall waken each soul to a knowledge of right. 
That each one may know the power of his might. 
In this journey of life just begun. 

Oh, give to each one of us knowledge of thee, 
That we all may know just how to live; 
That our spirits may shine, 
Pure and holy, Divine, 
And our good works go on to the end of all time. 
And each day Thy great love we shall see. 

Oh create within us a pure heart anew, 

That shall yearn for the truth for truth's sake ; 
And though we are weak, 
May each one of us seek, 
To naught but the truest and kindest words speak. 
From a heart that is equally true. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 37 

Oh God, send thine Angels with messages sweet, 
Thine agents of wisdom and love; 

And may their sweet power come to each one this 

hour. 
And refreshen their lives like a warm summer shower, 
Till they see the bright rainbow above. 

Oh, thus in the skies shall that emblem arise, 
Which shall show that the tempest is past; 
Then for truth we will stand, 
Heart with heart, hand with hand, 
Till we gain that bright haven at last. 



38 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
ANGEL'S GUIDANCE. 

ONCE when my heart was weary, 
And sorrow bowed my head; 
And I seemed mid the gloom and darkness, 
To be wrapped in a cloud of dread. 
I prayed that the .dear good Father, 

Who so wisely rules nature aright; 
Would send to my side an AngeL 
To lead me out into the light. 

Then over my soul in sweet answer, 

Like a vision so gloriously fair ; 
A form floated nearer and nearer, 

And I knew God had answered my prayer. 
Then gently the angel fingers, 

I felt on my aching brow, 
And she placed there a flower from Heaven, 

Then said: "Thou shalt rest, dearest, now." 

And her hands firmly stroked back the darkness, 

Till lighter and lighter it grew; 
Till I heard the sweet singing of Angels, 

And I saw heaven's light shining through. 
Then an Angel of heavenly beauty. 

More gloriously divine than the rest; 
Raised his eyes and his hands toward heaven. 

And my soul by his presence was blessed. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY, 39 

And I heard these blest words by him spoken, 

As they fell on my soul burning deep ; 
God giveth his angels charge o'er thee, 

Oh mortal why needeth thou weep. 
What sayeth the blessed spirit, 

I will keep thee in perfect peace; 
I the Lord will hold thy right hand, 

Trust the spirit and thy faith increase. 

Oh mortal draw nigh to God, 

And He will draw nigh to you ; 
Seek ever that Heavenly grace, 

Which shall strengthen thy spirit anew. 
Seek for wisdom through God's holy guidance. 

And all of his great precepts keep; 
And thou shall be wise and happy. 

While gathering the sheathes thou shalt reap. 

Go work for the harvest is ripening, 

And gather the golden grain; 
Then behold how beautiful earth will be, 

When thy garment, has not a stain. 
Then He folded a robe of brightness. 

All around my drooping form; 
And I knew that my prayer was answered, 

I was rescued from the storm. 



40 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
CHRISTMAS DAY IS COMING. 

OH Christmas day is coming, 
And we're going to have some fun; 
For school has closed for all the week, 
And our lessons are all done. 

Old Santa Claus is coming too, 

And lots of things we'll get; 
But what they'll be I cannot guess^ 

P'raps Santa don't know yet. 

We'll have to be so very good, 
Or Santie won't come near us; 

And don't you think that he don't know, 
For he's always round to hear us. 

And if we pull poor pussie's tail. 

Or cross and naughty be; 
Why Santie'U go right by with his things, 

And we'll get left you see. 

But if we try to do what's right. 

The very best we know; 
Old Santa'll fill our stockings full, 

From the top clear down to the toe. 



I 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 41 
FATHER'S HERO. 

TELL you I been thinking, Mother, 

And I thought a hull lot, too; 
Since I have had the rheumatiz. 

And nothing else cud do. 



That it isn't all the heroes, 
That are ridin' fiery steeds; 

And wearing the gilt and medals, 
For a doin' of wondrous deeds. 

A shootin' down the soldiers, 

And staining their souls with blood ; 

So red that good Saint Peter'll, 
Have to order another flood. 

It isn't all the heroes, 

That's a carrin' of the flag; 

But the boy that stays to hum, Mother, 
A followin' plow and drag. 

It's the boy that stays to hum, mother, 
Takin' care of you and me; 

I tell you, he's the hero, 
And the one I like to see. 



42 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

There's Jim attendin' college, 

And smoking his cigarettes; 
You don't catch John a doin' that, 

He's got more sense, you bet. 

Yes, Jim's attendin' college, 

Away up there in the State; 
And what will he be good for, 

When he comes to graduate. 

He won't be in it with John, 

He looked like a ghost last spring; 

A spendin' the money John sends him. 
For terbacker and such like things. 

And William, he's a jedge. 

In Chicago, as big as life; 
But he hasn't showed much jedgment. 

In choosin' himself a wife. 

He can't bring her down to the old farm, 

Because she's so mighty fine; 
And because she's edicated. 

And don't use sech grammar as mine. 

They say he's a fine polertician. 
And his jedgment can't be beat; 

But I'd rather have John's persition, 
When they meet at the jedgment seat. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 43 

They say j edges can't be honest, 

And keep hold on their job; 
So Fd rather be here on the farm, like John, 

Than be up there to cheat and rob. 

And Tom, he's joined the navy, 

And gone sailin' o'er the sea; 
And he writes the strangest letters. 

Hum here to you and me. 

Of the mighty great big cruisers, 

And how brave the sailors are; 
And about their diserpline on ship, "^ 

As they're sailing here and thar. 

But he's never done no fightin,' 

For all he is so brave; 
And I'd rather be like JofirThere, 

Than ridin' the Ocean wave. 

Now John's on solid bottom, 

By the sweat of his own brow ; 
He earns an honest living, 

A following horse and plow. 

He asks no odds of no one, 

He has to pay no rent; 
He has cleared the mortgage o0 the farm. 

He owes no man a cent. 



44 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY 

He has got the sweetest little gal, 

Just like the flowers in May ; 
And grammar doesn't count with her, 

She loves us anyway. 

And she says John is a hero 

Brave as any in the land ; 
Cause he's held the little fort at home, 

And he's held it single hand. ^ 

And John's been good and. kind to us. 

While the others went away; 
And left us here to worry through. 

No matter w^hat's to pay. 

So I've been thinkin' Mother, 
And I thought it mighty strong; 

Since I have had the rheumatiz, 
And been laid up so long. 

That when we are dead and gone, Mother, 
To our home in heaven bright; 

That the fort that John's defended, 
Will belong to him by right. 

And when John comes to meet us, 

We needn't have no fear; 
We know John's good and honest, 

And his record will be clear. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 45 

For John's on solid bottom, 

By the sweat of his own brow ; 
He has earned an honest livin', 

A foUowin' horse and plow. 

It's the boy that stays to hum, Mother, 

Takin' care of you and me; 
I tell you he's the Hero, 

And the one I like to see. 



4G LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
THE DUALITY OF THE SOUL. 

1HAVE seen her face again. The face I loved long 
years ago; saw it just as it was when first I knew 
her and my soul felt and knew the sunlight of her 
love. That face so realistic of my soul's ideal ; that form 
that fills every requirement of perfection which shall some 
time again be the light, joy and happiness of my exist- 
ence. Oh could I have but let her know^hat I was near. 
I am sure she must have felt my love like the purest 
music of the angel's songs, for she smiled and looked so 
beautifully peaceful and care-free, as though she were 
gazing rapturously upon the glorious scenes within the 
pearly gates of heaven. Where did she come from? 
Whither did she go? Why did she come to me and why 
could she not stay? Oh, my soul, is still bound to earth. 
How could her purity linger amid the vileness of this 
world. Still my soul tells me she is waiting on the eter- 
nal shores of time where she will reveal to me that it was 
her love I felt thrilling my soul with that longing and 
realization of the existence of the duality of the soul, 
which when united again after learning all truth and wis- 
dom and becoming equal in all things will become as one 
soul, harmonious in all, consequently one in God. 



UGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 47 
GOD'S WAY. 

JOHN STOUT was a lucky man, 
As the world counts luck, and wealth; 
For he owned much earthly possession. 
And was blest with the best of health. 
His cattle and horses were counted the best, 

And they were the very best too; 
But John was a hard working man, you see, 

And always had plenty to do. 
It had been a hot day in August, 

The sun was sinking low ; 
And Mary the farmer's trusty wife, 

Mopped the sweat from her wrinkled brow. 

She had baked and ironed and scrubbed and churned, 

And worked so hard all day; 
And found some time in the afternoon, 

To go and help John rake the hay. 
Now supper was nearly ready. 

And the table clean and neat 
Was spread for the evening meal, 

With new bread and potatoes and meat. 
Pickles and pie and cake, 

And other good things were there; 
Which showed without saying a word. 

Of the housewife's patient care. 



48 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

But Mary was tired and worn, 

And though her dress was clean; 
Her arms were thin and spare, 

And her cheeks were hollow and lean. 
And Mary's head was bowed, 

And her bosom heaved a sigh ; 
As with her gingham apron, 

She wiped the tears from her eye. 

"^ 
No hand to help me out, said she, 

I must do all the work alone; 
But I would not mind the labor so much, 

If John's heart wasn't like stone. 
It's up in the morning early. 

And work away late in the night; 
For man and beast to work so hard, 

I know it is not right. 

Just then John drove up to the door, 

With his horses fat and round ; 
Slick and shining and handsome, 

And every inch of them sound. 
He took oif his old straw hat. 

And wiped the sweat from his brow; 
And Mary called out from the kitchen door, 

Your supper is ready now. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

But John not looking towards her, 

Went forward and loosened the reins; 
Then gently unchecked their bridles, 

And fondly smoothed their manes. 
Then he patted their necks and rubbed their nose, 

As they drank from the water clear ; 
For John was fond of his horses, 

And to him they were very dear. 

Then he fed them well with oats and hay. 

And left them to eat their fill ; 
Then turned and entered the kitchen door. 

Where Mary stood waiting still 
And wishing with aching heart that John, 

Would show her one-half the care; 
And love that he so lavishly gave, 

To his shining fat gray mare. — - 

But John was tired and cross, 

And as he stepped in the door; 
His foot came down on the kitten's tail, 

As it lay there asleep on the floor. 
Meow, cried the cat, "Get out," said he. 

As he raised her with his toe; 
If you can't keep out of people's way, 

I'll show j'ou where to go. 

I 



50 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

And pussie sitting outside the door, 

Wrapped her tail in her bristling hair; 
As John took another step in the house, 

Ky yi, key yi, rent the air. 
And Jack the house dog limped out the door, 

And sat down by the cat ; 
And looked at his master with earnest eyes, 

Saying plainly, "How could you do that?" 

Now Mary had hung the canary bird s cage. 

By the door, it was such a warm day ; 
And as John turned to enter the door again, 

The cage too was in his way. 
It struck John's head, the cage swung back; 

Then struck against the door; 
Mary caught the cage, but the bottom fell off 

And the bird was on the floor. 

The cat gave one bound, the bird was dead, 

And Mary stood pale and sad ; 
Good God, said John, ain't there something else, 

Around here to make a man mad. 
Now Mary's heart was o'er-flowing, 

And her eyes from weeping were red ; 
And as John looked into her troubled face, 

He very impatiently said: 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 51 

Well, Mary, if you can't be pleasant. 

And are going to blubber and pout; ' 
I won't stay in the house at all, 

I will put on my hat and clear out. 
Then John wouldn't eat any supper, 

And taking his hat went out; 
And cleaned and petted his horses. 

And sat down on his feed box to pout. 

And Mary's heart was broken, 

Not for the bird or cat; 
For Mary was good and sensible, 

And would not have grieved for that. 
But John, oh John, why have you changed so, 

Cried Mary with aching brow; 
I am longing for you as you used to be, 

Why can't you be like that now? 

'Tis money and labor that changed you, 

For you used to be tender and kind; 
But now it is nothing but work, 
- And all the fault you can find. 
Oh God, my brain is on fire. 

My blood seems boiling within ; 
Oh where shall I flee for relief. 

Oh John, dear John, do come in. 



52 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

At last John picked up the old swill pail, 

And started for the house ; 
And listened and wondered where Mary had gone, 

As all was as still as a mouse. 
He hung his hat on the old wooden pin. 

Then pushed open the sitting room door; 
And stepped in quickly, "What's up," he said, 

As he saw Mary prone on the floor. 

He laid her drooping form on the v^d. 

And pushed back her long dark hair; 
And bending his car to her lips he heard, 

If John would only care 
One-half as much for me his wife 

As he does for his dappled gray; 
Oh then, we'd be happy again, John, 

As we were on our wedding day. 

And then like the blow from a hammer, 

The truth fell on his soul ; 
In my race for riches, my greed for wealth, 

I have played the part of a fool. 
Here lies my dear sweet Mary, 

That I promised to love and shield; 
And I let her drudge beyond her strength, 

And even work out in the field. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 53 

Look at her cheeks so hollow and thin, 

And her poor little hand so brown; 
When I led Mary Gray to the Altar, 

She was the handsomest girl in town; 
But look how she has changed, 

And what I have brought her to; 
Oh God! spare Mary to me, 

And I make all my vows anew. 

Oh God, leave her with me, I plead. 

And forgive my sin this day ; 
And I'll spend my last dollar to make her glad. 

My beautiful Mary Gray. 
Thank God, the truth has come to me now, 

What a nightmare my life would be; 
With all my riches and horses and stock, 

With no Mary to welcome me. 

Weeks, months passed by, ere that sweet pale face, 

Looked again from that kitchen door; 
And John drove up with his grays again, 

To water them as before. 
But look what a glad smile lights his face, 

As he sees Mary standing there; 
And quickly throwing the lines on the ground, 

He kisses her cheek so fair. 



54 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

The horses are pawing and champing their bits, 

Impatient for water to drink; 
But John is talking to Mary now, 

And of them he does not think. 
Till Mary stepped up to the shining gray, 

And petted the dappled mare; 
What a picture of happiness, love and content 

Dear friends, we will leave them there. 



S^ 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
THE TEA PARTY. 

THERE is going to be a tea party," 
Said Willie all excited ; 
"The teacher said the boys should tell, 
Their mothers they're invited." 
The price is only fifteen cents, 

Or more, if you should choose; 

The money is for the poor in school, 

For hats and clothes and shoes. 

''The teacher says there's lots of boys, 

Who need warm clothes to wear; 
And fifteen cents will help alonji, 

And isn't much to spare. 
Why! All boys haven't got a pa. 

To work and earn their meat; 
And the mother has to woflTand sew, 

To get them food to eat. 

And then there's rent and coal you know, 

Which costs a big lot too ; 
And many have to go without, 

I don't see how they do. 
The teacher said we could not go, 

A tea party was not for boys; 
And if there were a lot of us, , 

We would make an awful noise. 



LIGHT UPON A FILGRIAfS WAY 

But mamma I have got ten cents, 

Which I will gladly spare; 
And you can take it that will do, 

The same as if I was there. 
And God will know who sent it, 

To make some poor boy glad; 
And if it is a little bit, 

God knows 'twas all I had. 

Oh friends, these childish littlMvords, 

Express a motive grand; 
Oh give unto the poor children, 

And lend a helping hand. 
Think of the Words of Jesus, 

As he blessed them tenderly; 
"In as much as ye do it unto these, 

Ye do it unto me." 



T 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 57 
MOTHER'S SACRIFICE. 

HE mother gazed upon her infant child, 

"He is my son," she sobbed in her exultant joy. 
Then pressed it gently to her heart in fond embrace. 
"He is my babe, my babe, my precious boy. 



He is my son I am so blest, 

My own sweet babe, God gave it to me; 
I hold him closer to my breast. 

He shall be mine through all eternity." 

"He is my Son," the Father proudly said, 

When he had grown to manhood strong and true 

The world had honored him and called him brave, 
For valiant deeds that he had dared to do. 

"He is my son," the father proudly^aid, 
"Thank God that he was given to me;" 

Great credit to his name and country he has done. 
He is my son, "my son ; I am proud of thee." 

He is my love, a maiden said. 

He is all in all this world to me; 
Then turned her blushing face to hide, 

Confused, in maidenly modesty. 



58 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY, 

A wife stood firmly by his side, 

In trusting pride she claimed him as her own ; 
"He is my Hero now and all doth know, 

That he is mine, and mine alone." 

• His country called, a soldier brave, 
Was needed in the field ; 
Stern duties call, comes first of all, 
And to it all must yield. 

So forth to battle he must go, 

Until the conflict's done; 
Wife, Father, Mother, all must give. 

To the nation, its own son. 

He proudly sits upon his steed, 

How strong is his command ; 
How proud the nation of this son, 

The hero of his land. 

But list, the thunderings of war. 

Lays many a hero low ; 
As they roll and roar on every side, 

And the blackening waf clouds grow. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY, 59 

The hero falls neath his plunging steed, 

He is numbered with the dead ; 
They mourn him now, who called him theirs, 

But he is God's instead. 

Thus mother's love is sacrificed, 

As long as she on earth may live; 
It matters not what path is chosen, 

Or what the station life may give. 

But this her mother's love hath told her, 

And God hath promised in his love; 
That when life's cares and sorrows shall be over, 

They will meet to part no more in heaven above. 



60 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE. 

OH ! Who can tell ? the beauties 
Of life on the other side, 
Of the spirits that pass from this world 
On life's ever flowing tide. 
And who can tell the grandeur, 
Of the beautiful Innate Soul 
As it gathers its light from the great Divine Power, 
Love, Knowledge and Truth t^control. 

As we pass from this earthly home. 

To our home on the other shore; 
And we hear the sweet strains of the Angels' harps, 

And we know that earth's cares are o'er. 
Oh, the sweet rest of the spirit, as 

The freed soul meets those there; 
To greet their long lingering loved ones, 

And show them their home bright and fair. 

As each little one crosses the River, 

To enter that Summer Land; 
A beautiful Angel stands waiting, 

To take it by the hand; 
And guide its little footsteps, 

On through progression and light; 
And lift its Soul, with human love. 

To the realms of truth and right. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 61 

For 'tis the sweet mission of Angels, 

To help weary Souls to find ; 
The rest, that Divine love can bring them, 

Through sympathy and light combined. 
From the great source of human progression. 

Toward which, every soul presses on ; 
Till they gain the bright goal of perfection, 

And know that the victory's won. 

And this is what Angels are doing. 

In life on the other side ; 
They stand by the swinging portals. 

Watching the ebb of life's tide. 
Saying "Knock and it shall be opened," 

"Seek and ye shall find;" 
For the saving power of truth and light 

Your fetters can unbind. 

Saying come and we will show you, 

And if you will but heed ; 
You shall be filled with truth Divine, 

Your hungry souls to feed. 
For God brings all his children, 

Into the fold at night; 
The hungry and the weary, 

The sinstained and the white. 



62 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

And spreads out bread before them 

Saying eat of the bread of life ; 
Cease sorrowing and fearing, 

And all this needless strife. • 
Look up to the great Creator, 

Whose power is all sublime. 
Look up to that power of love so great 

That endureth through all time. 

For love is the great, great secret "^ 

Of life in the Spirit World. 
Let us paint Love on our banner, 

And march with our banner unfurled. 
Let us march in love and unison. 

Justice and truth our guide, 
Till our spirits shall pass beyond the veil 

To life on the Other Side. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 63 
THE SOLDIERS' GRAVES. 

AS long as the flag 
Of our country shall wave, 
O'er the land of the free 
And the home of the brave. 
Can we ever forget 

Those brave soldiers who fell? 
And can the sad story 
Their quiet graves tell 

E'er be forgotten by 

Those who remain? 
To enjoy the grand freedom 

They died to regain? 
Can we thoughtlessly pass on 

From day unto day? 
Without meditation, 

Oh should, we not pray? 

For the Spirits of those 

Who left mothers and wives. 
Children and Sisters and 

Gave their young lives: 
That the bells of the Nation 

In freedom should ring, 
And the flag of our country | 

Her banner should fling 



64 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

To the breeze her bright colors, 

So dear and so true, 
And all men should honor 

The red, white and blue? 
In the flag of our country 

We honor the red, 
'Tis the emblem of blood shed 

We honor our dead; 

In the flag of our country "^ 

We all love the white, 
'Tis the emblem of purity, 

Justice and right. 
In the flag of our country 

We all love the blue, 
'Tis the color our soldiers wore. 

With hearts beating true, 

Until their life's blood 

Stained its color to red, 
And our brave boys in blue 

Were laid with the dead. 
Laid with the dead, 

Oh the sad lonely mound, 
Can we pass such a spot 

Without the pulse bound? 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 65 

With deepest emotion for 

The brave boys so true 
Who died in defense of 

The Red, White and Blue? 
"Then cover with roses 

Each lowly grave, 
Deck them with flowers, 

Their sweet memory save. 

In the bright realms of Glory 

They are marching today 
With God their Commander 

To show them the way, 
Oh let them march on, in 

The realms of the blessed 
And there in sweet peace 

Let their weary soulr-rest." 



G6 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
A REVERY. 



I 



HAVE been on a long, long journey, 
Far back, o'er my girlhood days; 
'Twas a journey of joys and sorrows, 
Through narrow and winding ways. 



And I met all my childhood playmates. 
Now scattered and some gone be|ore; 

But I saw them while traveling this journey. 
Just as they were of yore. 

Happy, light-hearted and merry, 

As we traversed the meadows sweet; 

Parting the pink heads of clover, 

As we tramped with our little bare feet. 

Till one of us stepped on a thistle, 

And uttered a cry of pain; 
Then we all helped to pick out the thistles, 

And then scampered on again. 

When we reached the beautiful wild wood. 
With its stately old pine trees; 

And we danced on the smooth pine needles. 
And picked winter greens on our knees. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 67 

Then on, to the gully we bounded, 

Through paths our own feet had worn ; 

Crossed with logs and broken brambles, 
Till often our clothes were torn! 

But naught did we care for these trifles, 
When we reached the brooklet sweet; 

And paddled around in the water. 

On the smooth flat stones, with our feet. 

And the Sun, through the trees shown sweetly. 

On the water in brown and gold; 
Showing plainly the little minnows, 

As they nibbled our toes; so bold. 

Till the shadows grew long and stately, 

As they fell on the old sawmill; 
And we, laden with woodland treasures, 

Crossed the bridge at the foot of the hill. 

Then we climbed its long winding pathway. 
Stopped to rest, neath the old chestnut trees ; 

Then passed on by the dear old log house, 
Which awakens such sad memories. 

Then we drank from the spring in the field, 
Where my father had drank, years before ; 

When he carried the water in 'buckets, 
From the spring, to the log cabin door. 



68 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

Then we followed the long winding pathway, 
Crossed the cow pasture, down to the lane; 

And soon, with lagging footsteps, 
We were all back home again. 

And I thought as my journey was ended. 
Forty years having passed in an hour; 

'Tis thus, life's journey is wended, 

Through pathways of Sunshine^nd Shower. 

Over hills, across hollows and bridges, 
Through meadows of thistle and clover; 

We are landed again where we started, 
When all of our life work is over. 
Sept. 21, 1 91 2. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIAVS WAY. 69 
ETERNITY. 

ETERNITY Oh Boundless thought! 
Too great for human mind to measure. 
Reaching beyond the spheres in which we dwell, 
Out into the unknown, 
God alone can tell. 

The mysteries of endless life, and heavenly treasure, 
In all Eternity. 

Oh Endless space, reaching above, below, 

What mortal mind of thee can know? 

"Holding like apples on a tree. 

Orbs, planets, systems, easily." 

Oh well, the mortal mind may turn 

Back home to mother earth and learn 

The blessings, wonders of the world in which we live. 

And more of him who boundless mercies give. 

Oh Friend, we need not step beyond today, 
Or leave this world of toil and grief and care; 
For right beneath our feet, while here we stay 
Are opportunities so rare. 
Some soul to lift into a higher light, 
Some lamp to light to cheer the lonely night; 
For God is here and now, 
To lead us in His way. f 

Dec. 5, 1908. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 



LOVE'S GOLDEN CHAINS. 



H 



OW proud my spirit rose within me, 

When first I held this hand of thine; 
And I promised God I'd love and shield thee, 
Because henceforth it would be mine. 



As o'er the Ocean's rolling bosom, 
I sailed away with thee my own; 

I thought of naught but thee — my Bride, 
I thought of naught but thee, alone. 

I noticed not the joys and pleasures. 
That others 'round us seemed to see ; 

For Joy and Happiness reigned within me. 
My thoughts, dear one, were all of thee. 

The wonders in which others gloried, 
Appealed not to my rapturous soul ; 

Words cannot tell that strange, sweet gladness, 
Love, seems to o'er the spirit roll. 

Ah, we were young, were young then, Darling, 
And since life's brought long years of care ; 

But you are just as dear, my Darling, 
And just as good and true and fair. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

For love can keep the heart as tender, 
And true love never can grow old; 

Time cannot change or rend asunder, 

Souls God hath bound with Chains of Gold 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
A CRY FROM THE SOUL. 

I'>ORCED to say the fatal "No," 
' That banished from my side; 

The one God chose to be my mate, 
But whom this world denied. 

Forced to lift to my own lips. 

The poisoned cup of pain ; 
Which darkened every step ihjife, 

And made all seem in vain. 

It's shadowed every path I've trod, 
On which the Sun should shine; 

But still again the cup I've pressed, 
To these sad lips of mine. 

I have hushed the wailing of my soul, 
Like a babe upon my breast; 

But still it cries and cries again. 
And giveth me no rest. 

I have drained the cup — Ah, many times, 

In these past thirty years; 
But again the poisons steeped and brewed. 

In my sad and bitter tears. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 73 

Oh, were I like the martyrs old, 

Who drained the cup and died ; 
But I must live in Agony, 

And all my anguish hide. 



74 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
WAITING. 



I 



T HAS always been the edict, 
And conceded a Woman's Fate; 

While the man goes forth on the Ocean of Life, 
The woman must linger and wait. 



So I am waiting always, 

For the ship that sailed o'er the sea ; 
And took with it all that earth held dear, 

Will it ever come back to me? 

And I watch for that pure white sail every day. 

Whether calm or dark the sea ; 
That shall bring to my port that long lost hope. 

Is it yet far away from me? 

And I scan the horizon night and morn, 

On the shore by the rolling sea ; 
And I wait, and I wait, and I wait, 

For that ship to come back to me. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 75 
LIFE'S DANGERS. 

WHILE sailing life's long voyage o'er, 
There are some places, seems few ships can 
safely pass; 
Where tempests rage and foaming billows roar, 

And break with mighty thunders on the rocky shore. 
Whose sands are strewn with wrecked and lost, 
And stranded souls thus tempest tossed, 
We hear their ceaseless cries: Alas! Alas! 

On every rock a friendly light gleams o'er the wave, 
Placed there by those who passed in safety o'er; 

As if perchance, some storm tossed soul, to save. 
Who labors 'mid the danger, weak or brave. 

To warn him of its narrow channels deep. 

Its rushing waters, as they roar an3^eap, 
And by its friendly light, guide him to shore. 

A ship, now comes a ship. Ah! Steady there, 
- Ahoy! Ahoy! We loud exclaim. Ahoy! 
Keep off the rocks! Beware! Beware! 

Look round thee; danger everywhere. 
Lean on the Lord, keep in the light, 
Put trust in God, though dark the night. 

Stretch forth thine hand. He waits, letj God prevail. 



; 6 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

But look, He falters, see how of self he's lost control, 
He*s sinking, oh: So helpless and storm-tossed; 

See how the angr)^ billows o'er him roll, 

He sees no outstretched hand, or light, to cheer his 
soul. 

He's on the rocks, he rides the sea no more, 

He's stranded, cast amid the wrecks along the shore. 
Alas, poor soul, He's lost, He's lost, He's lost. 

But watch this ship, which now is sailing past, 
He trusts the Lord, we find no faltering here; 

His hand is steady, though his ship is cast. 

Amid the greatest dangers, with faith in God steadfast. 

He sees the shining beacon light, 

God's hand is guiding him aright. 

With brow serene, so calm, he hath no fear. 

See how he rides the treacherous sea. 

He hears the voice of God, above the ocean's roar; 
List, He is praying: God help me to be 

Mid storm and danger, drawn nearer to thee. 
Calmed is the sea ; the danger now is past, 
"Peace be still :" the Saviour speaks, at last 

He enters port, Triumphant evermore. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 77 
GOD'S CARE. 

SEE the little birdie 
Up in the tree so high, 
I wonder how he knows enough 
To use his wings to fly; 
It must be God that shows him 

And whispers in his ear, 
For he flies around so happy 
Without a bit of fear. 

God gives him little seeds to eat 

And crumbs that we throw away, 
For birdies never save a bit 

For dinner the next day; 
God watches o'er his little ones, 

Birdies and us and-aH, 
And shows us how we all may live 

And never fear to fall. 



78 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY 
THE MISER'S DREAM. 



I 



N a dark dreary place, by himself, alone, 
An old man lived in a hut of stone. 



The windows were grated and shutters, too, 
Were closed inside, when the day was through. 

On its strong iron hinges the old oakeq^door, 
Was bolted and barred, from the top to the floor. 

It looked like a prison so cold and bare, 

And no one would guess, there was treasure there. 

Here the old man sat, without neighbor or friend, 
For he never need borrow, and never would lend. 

He had hoarded his riches, with miserly greed, 
Regardless of others, and selfish indeed. 

Of lands he had plenty and everyone knew. 
That the old man was wealthy as any rich Jew. 

With no wife and no children, no relation at all, 
The town-folk all wondered to whom it would fall. 

A fire burned low, in the old chimney place, 
Which flickered and flared in the old man's face. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. V.) 

Showing wrinkles and hollows from brow to chin, 
And features all faded, and pinched and thin. 

His small hands are trembling, his sharp sunken eyes, 
Seem haunted with fear, as the flames leap and rise. 

Casting long ghost-like shadows, as with quick fitful flare. 
They dance on the ceiling, and table, and chair. 

At last, with a brand from the fire, burning low, 
He lighted a candle, whose fluttering glow, 

From a hole in the stone floor, hard, damp and cold. 
Revealed to his greedy eyes, riches untold. 

And he lifted it forth, in miserly pleasure. 
And piled on the table, his rich golden treasure. 

And with miserly greed, and fast bolted door 
He counted his wealth from the hole in the floor. 

He laughed as he handled the glittering gold. 

As he emptied the bags, and the yellow stuff rolled 

Into heaps on the table, he chuckled with glee, 
As he handled it over, and over, to see 



so LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

How in the dim light of the candle it shone 
As it fell on the table, and rang with pure tone. 

At last growing weary, the hour being late. 

He arose from his chair, much bemoaning his fate. 

For he knew his life's journey, on earth would soon end, 
And he had no relation, no wife, child or friend. 

This gold he must leave, when he came to death's door, 
For all earthly treasure must be left on this shore. 

And he sat down to ponder on what he should do. 

And he wished when he died, that his gold might go too. 

And his thoughts wandered back, to the days of his youth, 
When with brother John, and with sister Ruth, 

He had knelt by his mother's knee at night 

As she prayed to the Father, "Lead thou them aright." 

And he saw them again, his wife and his child. 
As with uplifted hands, and in accents mild. 

They had asked God's blessing on him years ago, 

But now they were resting, out there 'neath the snow. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 81 

In the dim candle light, shone a tear in his eye, 
As he watched the white embers fall and then die. 

His old fashioned clock, for many a day. 
Had quietly ticked his life's hours away. 

But tonight, it seemed as he sat alone, 

That the old clock ticked with a louder tone. 

And at last, with the clang of a bell in a tower, 
The old clock struck the midnight hour. 

And leaning his arms on the table old, 
The old man slept, mid his heaps of gold. 

His head fell forward, and rested there. 

And the candle expired, with a4ast sickly flare. 

Then the room was filled with a yellow light, 
Yellow as gold, and shining as bright. 

And larger, and larger, and larger, it grew 
Till the sky was yellow instead of blue. 

The sun was yellow and turned to gold, 

And instead of its warmth it was fre^ezing cold. 



S2 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAV. 

And it glittered and shone, in those yellow skies, 
Till it chilled, and blinded, the old man's eyes. 

Then a road stretched forth, before his view, 
And wider, and wider, and wider, it grew. 

All paved with gold, and its streets so wide, 
Were lined with gold, on either side. 

With fountains flowing, with trees and flowers. 
And grassy slopes, and beauteous bowers. 

But when from the fountain, he would drink. 
And he dipped his cup in its flowing brink. 

What seemed to be water, was solid gold. 
And the cup from his freezing fingers rolled. 

As he wandered on down this glittering road. 
He found on his shoulders a wearying load. 

With lagging footsteps and aching head, 
He longed for refreshing water and bread. 

So he staggered up to a nearby stand, 

In exchange for his gold, he extended his hand. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 83 

For a loaf of bread; it was heavy and cold, 
For the bread was nothing but gold, pure gold. 

Have you no heart? the old man said, 

That you give me gold, when I ask for bread? 

But he saw in dismay, that the man who sold 
Him the loaf of bread was a statue of gold. 

Then he turned in disgust, and despair away, 
And he longed for a couch, and a place to lay 

His weary head, and his burden great, 
So he eagerly knocked at a golden gate. 

It quickly opened, without a sound, 
And passing through, the old man^ found 

Great heaps of gold, lying everywhere, 

And gold, gold, gold, was all that was there. 

Then he cried aloud. Oh, God, where art thou? 
And what place am I in, and where and how? 

May I find my home, and my fireside warm? 
I am tired of gold, it has lost its clTarm. 



84 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

And as he knelt there, and cried aloud, 

On the yellow horizon appeared a white cloud. 

And nearer, and nearer, and nearer it rolled, 
Till it stood just beyond the heaps of gold. 

And in this white cloud were two forms fair, 
His wife, and his child, with their golden hair. 

My wife! My child, my child! he cried, 
And over the heaps of gold, he tried 

To clamber and tread, but the slippery pile, 
Kept him from reaching them all the while. 

And he cried again: Oh, what shall I do 
That I may be happy in Heaven with you. 

Then a voice from the cloud spoke in accents so sweet, 
"Go lay all thy treasure at Jesus' feet." 

Go, feed the hungry ; go give all thou hast 
To the poor upon earth, and in Heaven at last 

Thou shalt find treasure, more precious than thine, 
Thy burden shall leave thee. Thy spirit shall shine. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY, 85 

In a robe of pure whiteness with no yellow stain, 
Go back to the earth with thy treasure again. 

The old clock struck one, with its soft mellow tone, 
He lifted his head, He was there all alone. 

He shivered, the room was so dark and so cold, 
But before him still lay that great burden of gold. 

A year has passed by since he had that strange dream, 
But the old man never forgot, it would seem. 

For where the hut stood, is a school house today, 
With hundreds of children around it at play. 

And the old man sits near, with a smile so sweet, 
As they climb on his knees, and .sit at his feet. 

And the old town boasts of a fine church new. 
And the old man sits in the. very front pew. 

And many a story of love is told, 

How the old man has helped the poor and the old. 

And the town folks all wonder, what it could be, 
That made him so changed and with^ money so free. 



86 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

But he says it*s God's Love, as with sweet, shining face, 
He rises in meeting and tells of God's grace. 

He's the happiest man in the old town today, 

It would do 3^our heart good, to just hear him pray. 

Men, women and children, with highest esteem, 
Now, love the old man, who had this strange dream. 



w 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 87 
THE WAVING GRAIN. 

ELL do 1 remember that glorious day in July. 
Beautiful fleecy clouds floated like huge bunches 
of white down across the azure sky. 



The heated summer air vibrated and shimmered above 
the foliage and gently swaying shrubbery as the rays of 
the July sun beat down intensely upon all nature. 
Bushes laden with swaying balls of white blossoms, whose 
fragrance filled the air with the perfume of the elder, 
lined the fence of rustic beauty forming a hedge of rich 
green foliage from beneath which the long bending sprays 
of the wild raspberry gracefully arched their semi wreaths 
of tender green, beaded with tiny groups of waxen red 
fruit. Busily hummed the bees, as they buzzed from 
flower to flower gleaning their sweetness to store away 
for the cold and dreary winter, when all these beauties 
would be sleeping. Little white butterflies flitted here 
and there touching, like fairies with their wand, this 
leaf and then that and at last floating like a thought far 
away to be forgotten. We rambled on, our feet parting 
the pretty grasses and little pink and white heads of 
clover, as they bowed and nodded gracefully, as if beck- 
oning us onward, impatient for us to join their happy 
midst, little crickets and green grasshoppers jumped this 
way and that, and now and again the big winged grass- 
hoppers whirred past our ears as our approach disturbed 



88 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

them in their quiet abode. At last we reached the cool 
shade of the great chestnut tree, whose thick rich foliage 
and spreading branches had for many a year made a 
grateful shelter from sun and rain for man and beast. 
Away to the south stretched the fields of ripening grain. 
We gazed enraptured upon that beautiful almost bewild- 
ering scene. Could this be grain? Could this be land 
we were looking upon? Far out before us lay one mass 
of shining, rolling, waving, undulating glory. It seemed 
like one great wondrous ocean of light. Waves of the 
lightest shades of gold and green rose and fell and rose 
again, while wave fallowed wave, rolling, first this way 
and then that, as its bearded heads and polished stalks 
glinted and glistened in the noon day sun. Fleeting 
clouds passed before the sun casting shadows o'er its sur- 
face like great phantom birds as they glided away to the 
north. Each stalk nodded to its mate. Ripple after 
ripple danced o'er its surface. The shadow chased the 
sunshine and the sunshine chased the shadow as each 
wave moved gently away to the distance. And again as 
the gentle breezes shifted they were swept in rolling bil- 
lows across the pulsating bosom of this beautiful field of 
grain. It was enchanting. We stood enraptured. 
Neither of us spoke, for admiration of its grandeur. At 
last we both exclaimed as in a dream, beautiful, beauti- 
ful, beautiful! 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
BIRTHDAY GREETING. 

AS LIFE has plenty care and sorrow, 
I wish thee only joy for each tomorrow; 
And may thy friends who love thee dearly, 
Do all they can, while thou art here to cheer thee. 

Bring flowers of love and scatter 'fore thy feet, 
May every thought they give to thee be sweet, 
And may each year that's ushered in anew. 
Be freighted with rich harvest gleaned by you. 

As years roll on and birthdays come and go 
And many winters with their frost and snow. 
Change once dark hair to threads of silver white 
And dim the eyes, that once were true and bright, 

I'd ask that God would gently hold thy hand, 
And lead thee ever in His summer land, 
And that in truth thine eyes might plainly see 
Life's meaning here and now and through eternity. 



90 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
TRUTH AWAKENING. 



w 



HY are my greatest ambitions awakened? 
Why are the forces of my life renewed? 
Why are my doubts and my fears all forgotten? 
Why is my faint heart with new strength imbued? 



Why does this world grow brighter, more cheery? 

Why does this soft breeze seem kiting my cheek? 
Why does my heart bound with thoughts of the morning ? 

Why does the whole world to me gladness speak? 

Ah, it was truth, which, thus gladly awakened, 
Touched my dead heart with its magical wand, 

Caused me to look at this world as if enchanted. 
And to its wonders and beauties respond. 

Caused me to know God with higher conception, 
Caused me to love all which He pronounced good, 

Unfolded the story of Christ and His teachings, 
The story before which I ne'er understood. 

Truth is the rock, upon which Jesus builded. 

The temple of God, which shall not be thrown down. 

Truth is the door, which we pass through to Heaven. 
"Star of the East," wilt thou shine in mv crown? 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 91 
^THOUGHTS ARE THINGS." 

THEY tell me, friends, that ''Thoughts are Things" 
Which help to make our happiness or woe, 
If thoughts of good, they are like angels with 
bright wings, 
If thoughts of evil, then they are more like serpent stings. 

If they are true they bring to us God Power; 
If they are false they lead us far astray; 
If they are strong, they build a fortress tower. 
Which, as we think, grows stronger every hour. 

They say a true thought never dies. 
But lives, to walk before us every day. 
And like a bright star shining in the skies. 

It lights the night, before our wondering eyes. 

» 

And that a weak thought, leaves us weaker still. 
For in its place, comes still a weaker thought. 
Which faintly, weakly settles down, its place to fill. 
Destroying hope, and peace, and strength of mind and 
will. 

A thought of hatred? Ah, that is an evil thing. 
'Tis like a two edged, sharp and cutting sword, 
'Tis like the silent serpent's strike and sting. 
It wounds alike the innocent or mighty king. 



[)'Z LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

If this were all, it would not be so ill, 

But thoughts are like the busy bees that gather honey on 

their wings, 
Which, after gleaning, they bring home at night to fill 
The honey comb which they left empty still. 

And if these little bees of thought, are sent on wings of 

love, 
They bring back loads of love, or hon^ sweet. 
As from this sweet flow^er unto that they rove. 
And gather sweetness from the realms above. 

But if on wings of hate, these busy bees are sent, 

They will gather from the darkest souls, the poisoned 

darts of hate. 
And on these poisoned darts, our souls are pierced and 

rent, 
With thoughts of bitterest woe, and selfish discontent. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 93 
REMORSE. 

WHAT is this phantom thing, 
That haunts me like a nightmare, all the while? 
Like bat or vampire, with uncanny wing, 
It hovers o'er me with its sickening spell. 
Until I seem to almost gain a glimpse of Hell. 

What is this thing that comes and goes away. 
And though I bid it go and come no more, 
It circles back like some huge bird of prey, 
And settles like the night, upon me there. 
To rend me, in my deep and dark despair. 

Depart, depart, I cry; I would be free, 

I beckon joy, and peace, and love unto my side. 

But at thy spectral coming, they alTHee, 

For in thy presence even Angels weep. 

No wonder that I cry out in despair and rave in sleep. 

Go back. Thou evil thing, go back. 

I cry aloud to thee, "Whence comest thou?" 

Thou fiend, what is it, thou dost lack 

To chain my soul in darkness evermore. 

Away, depart from me, I would Implore. 



U LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

Now like a picture thrown upon the curtain 
It shows a scene, an awful scene before mine eyes. 
I look, I fear, I follow on uncertain, 
Until convulsed with anguish. There I see 
In that dread scene, my own come back to me. 

Aha, It cries, I thought that thou wouldst know 
This fair young girl that thou didst lead astray, 
She lifts the sparkling glass to drow(i^her woe. 
See this thy work, is this not fair? Say you? 
I shudder, for I know that "it is true." 

But wait, it cries, I'll show to you another scene, 

In truth, the play has only just begun. 

See this fair picture, this I ween. 

Will cheer thee ; see here, thy mother weeping sore, 

Thy brother lying dead upon the floor. 

While o'er his stiffening form his only brother stands, 

Is not this picture true, it cries. 

Like Cain, with darkened brow and dripping hands, 

As, pale with anger, mad with hate. 

You left that home, now cursed and desolate. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY, 95 

And Thou! Thou thought that thou could go unclaimed, 
And leave all this, thy cursed work, behind — 
That they who loved thee, would leave thy deed unnamed. 
Thou didst not reckon that thou must dwell with me. 
Walk by my side, through all eternity. 

Thou didst not know me? Why my name 

Is just "Remorse," but thou hast learned 

That with my finger pointed at thy shame, 

The redness of thy awful guilt shall show, 

And while I point to it, more crimson it shall grow. 

What's this? Thou ask me to relent? 
To leave thee in thy dark and lone despair? 
More fitting that thou of thy sin repent. 
Ere thou shalt follow on to where I dwell, 
And learn that my abode is hell: 

Remorse — Remorse. Yes, that is what thou art. 
More awful than dread chains, or prison bars. 
No sin stained soul can from thy side depart. 
Thou art Remorse, and now I know 
Thou art the strongest demon from below. 



90 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
ANOTHER DAY. 

WHEN I was just a little child, 
I used to love to go and stay 
With Grandmama, she was so gentle, and so mild, 
And she would let me plaj^ all day, 
It used to please her too, I know, 
Because she hugged and kissed me so. 

And then at night, my Grandmama would say. 

Come here my child, 'tis time to go, 
'Tis time to put your toys away, 

You see the sun is sinking low. 
Then she would kiss me, "just as sweet," 
And put my rubbers on my feet. 

And 'neath my chin my bonnet tie, 

And then my Grandmama would say, 
There, there, dear child, don't cry, don't cry. 

For you can come another day. 
So run, child, run ; 'tis getting late, 
The sun will soon pass through the Golden Gate. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S IV AY. 97 

Long years have passed, and sunset skies 

Oft turned to red and gold, 
And Grandma in the churchyard lies, 

Beneath the flowers, where oft my grief is told. 
For often when life's cares are pressing sore, 
I wish again for those sweet daj^s of yore. 

And as beside her grave, I weep and sigh, 

Again it seems I hear her gently say, 
There, there, dear child, don't cry, don't cry. 

For you can come another day. 
So run, child, run, 'tis growing late. 
The sun will soon pass through the Golden Gate. 



98 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
BABY SLEEPS. 

MY BABY sleeps, my precious child, 
Whom God hath given to me, 
He hath called thee away for an hour today 
Oh could I but hear what the angels say, 
As they tenderly talk to thee. 

They are calling you "Love," my littl^one, 
And I know that their words are true. 
For over your face, like sunbeams, chase 
Little smiles and dimples, with baby grace. 
What a picture of love are you. 

The story they whisper must be sweet, 
And full of baby fun. 

For you rub your nose, and wiggle your toes. 
And your dimpled fingers open and close, 
And I think the story's most done. 

Oh don't forget, my angel friends, 

That the baby is Mama's joy. 

And I lend him to you, for an hour or two, 

But I want him again, when you are through 

With my beautiful baby boy. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 99 

I won't wake my baby and bring him back 

Before your story is told, 

Now he moves, and sighs, and opens his eyes, 

And again, I hold my precious prize, 

More precious than gems or gold. 



100 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

\ 

THE OLD WORLD IS "ON THE 
SQUARE." 



I 



T MATTERS not, where we travel, 

Whether 'tis near or far, 
Whether here or there, or everywhere, 

We will find the world ''at Par." 



We may find the rich up higher,. 

We may find the poor below, 
But there's always a middle to every fiddle, 

On which to play with your bow\ 

You may be up tomorrow, 

You may be down today, 
Hut you'll find it true, whatever you do, 

"That where there's a will, there's a way.' 

If the summer is cold and chilly. 
Why the winter will be warm, 

But let that rest, "It is all for the best," 
There is just as much sun as storm. 

If life is sad while you are young. 

When you're old, it will turn to bliss, 

Just keep your gold, till you grow old. 
And what will vou care for this. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 101 

So just keep level headed, 

You will surely get your share, 
Though the world is round, it will be found, 

That the old world's "on the square." 



102 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
THE SNOW STORM. 

SNOW, Snow, pure white snow, 
What a puzzle of joy you are, 
As you chase and race and fly through space, 
Sailing down on your wings from afar. 

You lay so still on the window sill, 

Peeping in at me. 
Just to say "Here's the snow, but you did not know 

For we came in the night you see." 

Yes, silent and white you came in the night, 
But your secret you could not keep, 

For I saw you before, just beneath the door, 
Was a beautiful snow white heap. 

On bush and hedge, on railing and ledge, 

You hang with your frosty smile, 
You sit on the fences, and cover the trenches, 

As in mountainous heaps you pile. 

You fall on the trees, and with perfect ease. 
You nestle in their arms. * 

Though they shake you off, you only scoff, 
For they can not resist your charms. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 103 

You hang on men's shoulders like sparkling gems, 

Like diamonds flashing bright. 
You're a great coquette, though you're cold and wet, 

As you kiss their cheek so light. 

You put a nurse cap on every post, 

And bedeck them with aprons white, 
Like a pure white shroud, from a leaden cloud, 

You envelope the earth from sight. 

You come like a sweet benediction from God, 

To the soul of each mortal below, 
You make them glad, or you make them sad. 

According to joy or woe. 



104 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY 
THE HOLY VISITANT. 



o 



NE beautiful Sunday morning,— 

The Preacher, old and gray, 
Announced to his congregation 
He had something important to say. 



Then he asked for their attention, 
And when they were quite stilly 

He proceeded to tell the people, 
Of the Blessed Saviour's will. 

Last night, while I was praying, 

I had it shown to me 
That Jesus walked within our midst. 

And would be glad to see 

The people of this church 

With each one of you to speak, 

And if it were convenient 

He would call on you this week. 

This put the good church women 

In a flutter you may know. 
They must go home and clean and dust, 

And have things cooked up so. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAV. 105 

When Jesus called all would be ready, 

A feast for Him, to lay, 
And they would have their work all done, 

And spend with Him the day. 

On Monday morning early, 

A knock came at the door, 
As Mrs. Brown, with dust cap on, 

Was sweeping the kitchen floor. 

My papa's dead, my mama's sick, 

I have little brothers, three, 
I have to beg from door to door, 

Won*t you be kind to me? 

Dear me, said Mrs. Brown, 

I have no time, you see, 
I have some clothes, but they're packed away, 

I'm expecting company. 

The poor child shivered and wandered on, 

And breathed a silent prayer, 
As doors were shut tight in her face, 

They knew not Jesus there. 



106 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

As next, on Mrs. Jones she called 

And made her little plea, 
Mrs. Jones expected company, too, 

And was busy as could be. 

Next door lived Mrs. Smith, 

In a mansion large and stately. 
These beggars make me tired, said she, 

There's so many of them lateh"^ 

I can not bother with you, child, 

I am sorry for you, too. 
You may come again some other day. 

When I've not so much to do. 

Then the poor child knocked at a cottage door. 
Just a kitchen and one large room, 

By the table a weary woman sat. 
In the corner a carpet loom. 

She told this poor woman her story sad. 
Of her mother in want and cold, 

As the woman listened to hunger's cry, — 
The tears down her poor cheeks rolled. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 107 

Come in, said she. Sit thee down, poor child, 

What I have I will share with thee. 
And she put in her basket from off the shelf, 

Some bread, and potatoes, and tea. 

On the table she laid a snow white cloth, 

And two bowls of broth, and bread, 
Then she sat the hungering child by her side, 

And silently bowed her head. 

When low: Right before her wondering eyes, — 
Sat the Saviour, So sweet and mild, — 

And He broke the bread and gave thanks, too. 
In the place of that little child. 

Take eat, said He, as he gave it to her. 

Thou art a disciple of mine, 

Thou hast fed the hungry and helped the poor. 

And I am a guest of thine. 

And I came to this humble home, said He, 

Because here I found my own, 
I come here often to answer your prayers, 

When vou think vou are all alone. 



108 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S IV AY. 

And the other women sat all that week, 

Their houses ready and clean, 
Waiting for Jesus to call on them. 

But the Saviour they had not seen. 

Next Sunday came and they wanted to know 

Of the Parson, the reason why 
Jesus had not called on them, 

And why did He pass them by. 

And then the good parson plainly told, 

It was counted to them a sin, 
For Jesus brought to them a hungry child. 

But they would not let Him in. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 109 
A SOUL MESSAGE. 

AS THOU passeth on through these days which are 
filled with a new life for thee, dropping here and 
there before those with whom thou comest in con- 
tact, these sweet buds of kindness, Thou shalt see thy 
works magnified, For each little bud shall burst forth 
into perfect bloom, and fill thy life with perfume rare, 
And again as these flowers fade, they shall give forth 
many seeds which scattered by the winds of time, shall 
again take root, and spring forth into perfectness, Which 
like the mighty Oak, shall defy the storms of life, and 
We see thy strong arms spreading forth toward human- 
ity. Thy feet deeply and firmly planted in the depths of 
truth, Thy face turned upward, shining with the light 
of Heaven and a true knowledge of thy God. 

For thee these words from Angels come, 

In truth and love they are given. 

The power of love 

Which from Above 

On thee is resting like a dove 

Shall guide thy feet each day toward Heaven. 



110 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

For Heaven is here and God is near 

When e'er the heart is right 

And peace, Sweet peace 

Will thus release 

Your soul from bondage and increase 

Your powers of holy might. 



V. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. Ill 
A TRUTH FROM SUMMERLAND. 

WE CANNOT upward rise, until our feet 
Are planted firmly on the rocks of truth 
And we can see, in all this world God's harmony 
Until, we, looking towards the skies, 
Can in the stars see our Creator's eyes; 
Until we, looking upwards to the Sun, 
Can, in its bright rays, behold the One 
Great power of Unity 

We cannot upward rise until we feel 

In Nature's touch the wondrous power of love 

For to this world is God revealed 

Through Nature's laws. This earth doth yield 

Fruits for all creatures here below 

From seeds we with our own han^sow 

When guided by His love 

We thus may upward rise. 

We cannot upward rise unless we sow 
The seeds of wisdom in our Gardens fair 
For as we sow we thus must reap 
And we must God's great precept keep 
If we would gather Golden Grain 
We must to Wisdom's light attain ^ 
If we would upward rise. ' 



U2 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
PATIENCE. 

PATIENCE is the beloved child of our sweet virtues, 
Faith, Hope, and Charity. Patience is the outcome, 
or result, of these virtues working on the human 
Soul. In fact, our souls are just what we make them, 
by cultivating these virtues within them. A soul that is 
full of faith, hopefulness and loving charity, working in 
harmony with the laws of life, will become patient and 
steadfast, and "In your patience possess ye your souls." 
"Let Patience have her perfect work, that ye may be per- 
fect and entire, wanting nothing." Those words of 
James 1-4 prove that He taught that patience could make 
us perfect, and if it was true then, it is true now. God 
is unchanging in Spirit, and the Spirit of God dwelleth 
in the heart of man, according to the development of 
man's soul, by his desire and aspirations, to fulfill the 
laws of God in this life. "The Patient in Spirit are bet- 
ter than the proud in Spirit." Patient in Spirit, Oh, 
what a depth to the meaning of these words. Patient in 
Spirit, within the soul. Away down in our true selves, 
how often do we rebel within, really grumble and feel 
angry within the spirit, because of sume duty, or neces- 
sary work, we are expected to perform. While we hide 
our displeasure by wearing a smile on our face. Work- 
ing with such a feeling does not strengthen our souls, 
or spiritual powers. True patience is known only to 
those who have suffered, and through their suffering, have 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 113 

been brought to a knowledge of the need of spiritual 
food for the soul. That knowledge came to Jesus when 
he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He suf- 
fered such agony of spirit, before He was crucified. ''And 
an Angel came and comforted Him." That was the 
spiritual food He needed, and that gave Him strength 
to overcome His own feelings and He told His disciples 
to sleep on, for "it was done." 

But it is seldon we are put to such trying tests, and 
very often we feel that we could bear some great trouble 
with more patience than we can bear the simpler little 
trials of life, but it is these little things that make up 
our lives, and from which our spirits receive the strength 
that give us the power to realize the beauties of this life 
and afterwards the enjoyment of a Heavenly home. For 
it is this spiritual discernment enables us to separate the 
real from the unreal, and having once tasted of the 
Spiritual food, our souls are awakened to a desire for a 
higher life; a life of reality, that shall grow^ and endure 
for all eternity, broadening into love for all mankind, and 
all things which God pronounced good. David said, "I 
waited patiently for the Lord, and He brought me up 
out of a horrible pit, and put my feet upon a rock and 
put a new song in my mouth." Oh, how many of 
us need to have our feet put upon a rock and a new song 
put in our mouth. A song of gladness, instead of com- 
plaining. A song of thankfulness, instead of bitter dis- 
content. Many destroy the pleasure they might enjoy 



114 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

with what they already possess by being impatient to ob- 
tain something, which may prove to be a detriment to 
them when they shall have given up all to satisfy their 
impatient desires. It is the little things of life which 
make us just what we are. Just as the little atoms of 
material combine to make the earth what it is. If we 
should take the little things out of the world, what would 
be left, and it is the same with our lives. 

It was the little word "yes" or "n^o" that changed all 
our future. It was the little kiss of the child, "passed on," 
that sweetened the mother's memory for years to come. 
It was a little kind word that cheered a friend's heart 
all day and lightened a lonely life. It was a little quick 
thought and action that saved a child a heavy fall. It 
was a little bunch of flowers that cheered and brightened 
a sick room. A little sacrifice that gave food to a hungry 
mortal. A little word of love that lightened a weary day 
of labor. A little word of encouragement that gave 
hope to a drooping soul. Oh, these little things, how 
precious they are in our lives, when we know their real 
value, and all these little precious gems are born of a 
patient spirit, and they shall shine In that home of the 
soul, to gladden and greet us there, because we have 
created them for ourselves, and they can never fade 
away. Some beautiful Angel will await us in Heaven 
to thank us for each deed of love and kindness, and deck 
us with garlands of Heavenly love. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 1J5 
CONQUEST. 

We cannot count the "battle done" 

Until each conflict 'neath the Sun 

Is firmly challenged, fought and won. 

Every thought we send out returns 

Doubly laden with its own kind, 

It is not only to know truth; 

But it is the truth we live 

That makes us truthful. 

If we never have seen God, 

In this world, 

How may we expect to know^ Him in the next? 

This world is God's world. 

Why may we not be happy here, 

As well as in the next world ? 

If we cannot appreciate this life, 

How may we expect to be happy in a higher life? 



IKi LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
THE INDIAN BRIDE. 

Sweet Sunflower was a Pawnee maiden, 
Sunflov/er was the Pawnee's pride. 

Loved was she by all her people, 
Dwellers on the mountain side. 

Where the river in the valley, 

Gently rippled on its way, ^ 

Flashing over stones and pebbles, 
Sunflower came, from day to day. 

Sunflower came to get the water. 

Laughing as she passed along. 
Noting with her sense of beauty. 

Every note in Nature's song. 

Flowers and birds, on thicket branches, 
Bees which hummed in blended tune; 

For her heart was full of gladness. 
With love's awakening song in June. 

One day, Pawnee Chief "send message." 
"Sunflower's father he would see." 

He should come to meet the Chieftain, 
In his wigwam, silently. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 117 

The old brave sorrowed, 

Knowing well his Chief's demand 
Would be what he mostly dreaded. 

Would be for fair Sunflower's hand. 

Hard 'twould be to give his Sunflower 

From his wigwam ever more. 
But to see her smile and happy 

He would give his pleasure o'er. 

But he knew she loved another, 

And another loved her well, 
He had watched her; seen the "love light" — 

Though lips spoke not. Her eyes could tell. 

When she went to bring the water, 

He had seen them there, that day, 
Red Deer's out-stretched arms to greet her. 

She, with glad eyes turned away. 

And he mourned for Sunflower^s future. 

Well he knew Chief Pawnee's will. 
Knew if he refused to give her, 

Pawnee Chief would have her still. 



118 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAV. 

Knew the Chief was cold and cruel, 
Knew her happiness would fade, 

And his Sunflower soon would wither, 
Like the flowers in forest shade. 

When he told Sweet Sunflower sadly 
She must be the Chieftain's bride/' 

Sad was Sunflower, but still bravely 
Did she all her sorrow hide. "^ 

By the river, listening, watching, 
'Neath the sheltering forest shade, 

A noble brave, another tribesman, 
Is waiting for this Indian maid. 

Around his head, in Indian fashion, 
A beaded band, his long hair binds, 

Which, fastened back from brow and temple, 
Reveals his features, strong and kind. 

Joy beams up on his happy features, 
The light of love shines on his face, 

As he beholds this Indian maiden 
Approach, in her bewildering grace. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 119 

List, he hears her happy murmur, 

Lights his eye with misty light, 
And with out-stretched arms he calls her, 

''Sunflower, come, my Sunflower bright." 

Red Deer loves bright Pawnee maiden. 

Sweet Sunflower love Red Deer, too? 
Red Deer comes from far off mountain. 

Come to get his Sunflower true 

Sunflower, bright as morning sunrise, 

Red Deer glad when Sunflower near. 
Red Deer waits for Sunflower's foot-step, 

Glad, when Sunflower's foot-step hear. 

Red Deer fill the jar with water? 

Sparkiing like sweet Sunflower's eyes ? 
Red Deer hold sweet Sunflower closely, 

"Red Deer's squaw till Red Deer dies." 

Then Sunflower tells her Indian lover, 

How Pawnee Chief has "asked her hand" 

And how her father sits in silence 
Sorrowing at the Chief's command. 



120 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

"When the moon shines, Red Deer's waiting, 

Will sweet Sunflower come? 
Red Deer take her to his wigwam, 

Red Deer's squaw, in Red Deer's home." 

Pawnee Chief can't have my maiden. 

Sweet Sunflower for "Red Deer's bride." 

Red Deer live for his bright Sunflower, 
Live, or die, by Sunflower's side.. 

Now a foot-step, light and stealthy. 

Then a hand, the bushes part, 
They are watched, the Pawnee Chief sees — 

Red Deer hold her to his heart. 

Hears him promise to come for her 
When the moon is shining bright; 

Brave Red Deer will never get her, 
Pawnee Chief will w^atch tonight. 

Now the moon is shining brightly, 
Red Deer comes to get his bride. 

Sunflower greets him. Forth together, 
Sunflower goes by Red Deer's side. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 121 

But behind them, like a panther, 

Pawnee Chief waits, mad with hate; 
Then at once they are surrounded, 

Ah! Alas! Poor Sunflower's fate. 

As with buck-skin thongs they bind them, 

They fasten Red Deer to a stake. 
There they leave him till the morning. 

Till the Pawnee braves shall wake. 

Then Pawnee Chief calls forth sweet Sunflower, 

Before their eyes he stabs her through, 
While Pawnee people wail and murmur. 

"Let Red Deer kill bad Chief so, too." 

The Pawnee braves unbind tjifi. prisoner, 
And Red Deer kills the Pawnee Chief, 

And goes to hold poor dying Sunflower, 
The Pawnee's Pride, now past relief. 

Beside her sadly mourns her father. 

Who tries her suffering to abate. 
As Red Deer comes, he gives her to him, 

Alas! For Red Deer, it is too late. 



122 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAV. 

He gently holds her to his bosom, 

Bright Sunflower's Spirit gone to rest? 

When lo! He sees her spirit waiting, 
And sinks his knife deep in his breast. 

Then upward float their souls together; 

Bright Sunflower and her brave Red Deer, 
To dwell in happiness forever, 

Where naught with love, may "^terfere. 

While Pawnee people tell this legend. 

And all believe that it is true ; 
They all rejoice that Pawnee maiden 

Took brave Red Deer up with her, too. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 133 
MOTHERS' DAY. 

THE services on "Mothers' Day" at the Drexel 
Park Presbyterian Church, 64th St. and Marsh- 
field, Ave., were most beautiful and the day was 
one to be remembered by every one present, especially 
the mothers and children. The children of the Sabbath- 
school donated flowers for the mothers and each mother 
received a pure white carnation on entering the church 
as an offering of love from the children. Select and most 
inspiring music was beautifully rendered by the choir, 
after which our pastor. Rev. Geo. A. Hill, lead forward 
an old gentleman, Dr. Butler, who proved to be one of 
the professors in Alma College when Rev. Hill was 
studying for the ministry. Dr. Butler made an eloquent 
and earnest prayer for the mothers and children, which 
the congregation, with closed eyes7 followed throughout, 
their souls responding to each of his supplications to God. 
Our pastor then addressed us in his ever good way, inci- 
dentally using selections from the following verses which 
had been written by Mrs. AUiene Lindsey. 

This day is chosen by our people 

A day for mothers, everywhere. 
The parks, the schools, all public places, 

All hail the name of mother, th^re. 



IM LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

All thfs sweet da)^ we'll think of mother. 

To her, this day, is given o'er. 
Dear mother in heaven, of thee we ponder 

Dear mother on earth, we thee adore. 

The world has recognized that mother 
Is the sweetest name, it ere can call, 

And placed here on a throne of glory; 
Before this throne we humbly fall. 

Since the days of Eve there have been mothers 
Mothers loving, brave and true. 

True to the trust that heaven gave them 

They have reared the world, given life anew. 

Ah, who of us has not a mother 
Who waits in heaven or here below. 

Whose tenderest care and life has given 
To us the best her heart could know? 

Our greatest men gone down in history. 

Each one and all have testified 
That all that's good and noble in them 

Was taught them at their mother's side. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY, 125 

There, mother sat with open Bible 
And taught them of that Holy way 

To go to God in prayer for wisdom, 
And God would lead them day by day. 

"Mother." The name itself is holy, 
For was not *'Mary" a mother, tried 

Whose loving heart was rent with sorrow 
When on the cross our Saviour died? 

Oh, mother dear, to thee we tender 
Fondest remembrance and love so rare 

God crown thee, with that crown of glory 
So fittting that thy head should wear. 

We bring thee flowers, a simple token 

Of love, esteem, and honor, too. 
And pure as the pure white flowers we offer 

Is the love, dear mother, we bring to you. 

May every child and man and woman 

Honor the mother that gave them birth. 

And let us ask our Heavenly Father 
To bless all mothers here on earth. 



12G LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
THE ALTAR OF LOVE. 

HOW beautiful and pure she seemed, arrayed in her 
robe of fleecy whiteness. Crowned with a wreath 
of orange blossoms. And o'er it all, a snowy veil 
to hide the brightness of her eyes — the windows of that 
happy soul who trusting God, and man, lays all her fu- 
ture life, and hopes, upon this altar, "The Altar of Love." 
Where burns the never dying flame of sacrifice. Bravely, 
unshrinkingly, she passes, from her little world in which 
she ruled alone, into the great spheres of life, where all is 
uncertain, and all things must be trusted to a good and 
wise Father, until all has been given, even to the last 
breath. And he who clasps her hand? He bravely lays 
a life of care and labor upon this altar, sacrificing all re- 
muneration in this world, for his efforts of mind, and body, 
to provide the earthly pleasures, comforts, and necessities, 
required to build up this little sanctuary, the happy home, 
where burns this purifying incense on the Altar of Love, 
The "Holy of holies" — The purifier of the soul. And 
after all has been said, and after all has been written, 
nothing has ever been said, or written, greater, than these 
words — "There is no place like home." May God bless 
our homes and guard and protect "the Altar of Love" 
with His mighty Love and power. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 127 
UNBIDDEN GUESTS. 

A KNOCK came at my door at dead of night. 
With wonder at what might be thus in store, 
1 arose, and timidly unbarred the door. 
\\\ien in the flickering candle light 
A man stood pale and wan. 

Good neighbor, the hour is late I know. 

But I have ventured thus to come to you. 

For I'm in trouble deep, and know not what to do. 

And need a friend. Will you your kindness show? 

For death has knocked upon my door, and entered in. 

I followed in his lantern's feeble glow, 

As sad, and silently he led the way 

Unto his home, where still and-white there lay. 

Beneath the sheet, a woman's form, when lo, 

An infant's cry shrill, pierced the silent night. 

And then I learned, that, at this stricken home 

Two guests unbidden lingered at the door. 

That death came not alone, but poverty who knocked 

before 
With wolfish cries and glistening fangs had come 
And though death passed this hopie, she bade it to 
return and claim this soul. 



128 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

And as with saddened heart and tearful eyes — 
I took this little child and held it to my breast, 
And gazed with aching heart upon that form at rest, 
A mother's yearning o'er my soul came from the skies 
For God had touched my soul with **love." 

And, thus we see our Father's tender care 
For, to a home, where want and poverty 
Had robbed the babe of mother's care, we see 
God sent for one, who would his blessings share, 
With one who had naught of his own to give. 



UGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 129 
THE ROSE. 

AROSE. It was given to me. That beautiful little 
creation came to me and in its own sweet way, 
whispered of another's love, I gazed into its crim- 
son depths, and there in its wondrous beauty, and mysteri- 
ous formation, its folding petals, and delicate waxen 
material, I saw that, which caused me to realize that this 
flower, this dainty little creation of God's, through nature 
was as great a mystery, as my own life, and that it lived 
to perform a mission in life the same as myself. 

There it stood upon my table pouring forth its precious 
perfume making "my little world" that much sweeter for 
its presence. After bringing its message of love to me, 
it was now endeavoring to sweeten my life by the pure 
breathings of its fragrance. Pure little rose : thine efforts 
are not in vain. Thou hast caused a thought to be born 
unto my soul which shall never die, and thou shalt live 
in thine own creation of love forever more. 



130 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 
MIDNIGHT. 

MIDNIGHT, could we but look into the hun- 
dreds of homes at this hour. What a record we 
might have to give the world. 

Sickness, sorrow, death, tears. Watching for, and over 
loved ones at this midnight hour. Waiting for Father, 
Mother, Sisters or Brothers; Parents waiting for children. 

Anxious mothers and wives with brows pressed against 
the window pane, praying for husbands and sons. Men 
drowning their troubles with drink and cursing their dis- 
appointments ; while others rejoicing over their triumphs 
receive congratulations from those who drink to their 
health and success. 

Many sleepless and restless are thinking and laying deep 
plans for revenge and usurping power. Thieves plan to 
rob the rich or poor, while lives are in danger who know 
not what the night may have in store. All this with 
thousands of other sorrows and sins which seem inten- 
sified at this low ebb of the night. When God seems 
farthest from the world : all this is mixed and interspersed 
with pleasure, laughter and rejoicing, revelry, dancing and 
debauchery. The young with carefree hearts, paint pic- 
tures of the bright and happy future. While air castles of 
hope are reared to crash to earth and bury the builders 
in their ruins. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 131 

Oft at this hour the murderer lifts his hand perhaps 
against his own, and death stalks in — an unwelcome and 
unbidden guest to linger until all is o'er. 

Poverty howls louder and sinks its fangs deeper, in- 
flicting more sickening, and keener suffering when all is 
still, and cold, and hearts are breaking. 

Sleep falls heavier at this hour upon the weary ones 
who labor at the great centres of commerce and industry. 
Midnight is the intense hour when all is finished for the 
day and the great weight of the last twenty-four hours 
rests upon the minds and hearts of man, as the clock's 
hands clasp together pointing upwards as if in prayer to» 
God for the beginning of another day. 

Midnight and millions are sleeping 

Tucked snugly and warmly in bed. 
Midnight and thousands are weeping 

And sadly watching their dead. 

Midnight and many in sorrow, 

Are grieving for those past relief, 
Whose only prayer for tomorrow 

Is God help me to bear my grief. 

Midnight and diamonds glitter, ^ 

Over hearts that are aching witl[i pain, 

As they think of the past, Oh! how bitter, 
Is the thought, It will ne'er come again. 



132 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

While many are dreaming of dear ones, 

Now thousands of miles away; 
And many are praying for dear ones, 

Who from God's love are wandering astray. 

Midnight and mothers are watching 
For wayward daughters and sons, 

While thousands, and thousands, debauching, 
Have forgotten their homes, andjoved ones. 

Midnight and thousands are parting. 
After pleasure, laughter and fun. 

Midnight and many are starting 
To dance at the ball just begun. 

Midnight, when revelry heightens, 

And evil seems almost divine. 
When sin in her crimson robe brightens, 

As she drinks of the bright sparkling wine. 

Midnight, the stars ever shining — 
The moon hanging low in the skies, 

While we leave the past day just declining, 
And speed on, toward the glad sunrise. 

And over us all God is keeping 

A record of every one's life. 
A record of joy or of weeping, 

Of happiness, love, or of strife. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 133 



LOVE WROUGHT THIS 



I 



HAVE just heard a story. 
Told by one who should know 
Of something which happened 
A long time ago. 



In a far away country, 
Across oceans and seas, 
Where they built great cathedrals 
And temples with ease. 

It was while they were building 
A cathedral well known, 
Out of mountains of marble 
And great heaps of stone, 

That this incident happened 
Which I will relate, 
As 'twas given to me 
Without year, or date. 

The work was progressing 
With the tick of a clock, 
When at the great gates 
Came a faltering knock. j 



134: LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY 

And there stood a man 
All dusty and worn, 
He had traveled all night 
And ever since morn. 

He was feeble and old 
With hair long and gray, 
And he walked with a cane. 
He had come all the wa\^ 

From a far distant city, 
For he was alone. 
But he was a workman, 
A hewer of stone. 

For this he was seeking. 
Would they let him come in ? 
If they would, he'd be grateful, 
And at once, would begin. 

The Gatekeeper eyed him 
From his head to his feet. 
He then bade him enter 
And gave him a seat. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 135 

. Then the great Master builder 
The Gatekeeper brought. 
Who asked him his business, 
And what was it he sought. 

He knew he was old bj^ 
His hair long and white. 
But a look in his eyes 
Had won him at sight. 

For a deep, calm, and peaceful, 
Expression was there, 
Which reminded the Master 
Of an angel at prayer. 

That man has a soul 

Or at least he had, once, 
I will give him a chance, 
I am sure he's no dunce. 

And if it is work. 
For which he doth pray, 
I will just let him try, 
No harm, anyway. 



136 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

So he bade him to follow 
'Mid the great marble piles 
Up marble stairways 
And through peristyles. 

Then he halted at last 
In the great Audience Hall 
At the foot of a column 
Whose great capital 

Lay bare and plain 
Awaiting the skill, 
Of the hand with the chisel, 
And mallet, and drill. 

To change its plain surface 
With artist design — 
To an object of beauty, 
With features divine. 

Now the top of this column 
Was secluded from light 
And the work on its surface 
Would be hidden from sight. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 137 

So not knowing this workman 
Or what he could do, 
He would let him work here 
It would please him, he knew. 

So he asked the'old man 
Could he work "up that high?" 
Oh, yes, said he gladly. 
Oh, yes. I will try. 

Then sounding a whistle 
Whose clear clarion call, 
Brought men to his side 
From all parts of the hall. 

He bade them to-bttild him 
A good scaffold strong, 
And help him to mount it 
In case aught was wrong. 

Be sure, let him know. 
Soon the scaffold was done, 
The old man climbed up. 
And the work was begun. 



138 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY 

Days, weeks had passed by. 
The old man still there, 
Still worked on the marble 
With infinite care. 



Till one evening the Master 
Having finished the day, 
Missed the old man 
Ere he started awav. 



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So he sounded his whistle 
Long, loud, and shrill, 
But no aanswer came back 
From the old man, still. 

Then he mounted the ladder, 
Long, slender, and tall. 
Still no answer came 
At the Master's call. 

Then the Great Master found him 
Sitting stiff, cold and dead. 
While the hard finished marble 
Supported his head. 



LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 139 

Just then from a window 
Which faced toward the west, 
The sun streamed in 
On this white face at rest. 

And illumined the face 
On the capital. 
And lighted the column, 
And ceiling, and wall. 

And wrought in that marble 
With a master hand 
Was a face, most glorious 
A work, most grand. 

And the Master stood 
Transfixed to th« place, 
As he gazed on those features. 
That wonderful face. 

"Love wrought this," I know. 
The Master then said. 
As he gazed on the marble. 
And then on the dead. 



140 LIGHT UPON A PILGRIM'S WAY. 

"Love wrought this," I know. 
Naught else, could do 
Such beautiful work, 
So perfect and true. 

"The Soul of a God 
I saw in his eyes — 
And love was his God. 
May his spirit arise." 

Years, and years, have passed by 
Since this happened they say — 
Yet the column and capital 
Stand there today. 

And many a pilgrim 
Has crossed the sea, 
To see this sweet face, 
This is what they tell me. 

Just to see this sweet face 
At the sunset hour 
When the sun shines in 
Through the western tower. 



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